Mid Hudson Times June 26 2019 | Page 2

2 Mid Hudson Times, Wednesday, June 26, 2019 IN THIS ISSUE Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 City of Newburgh.. . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Crossword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Letters to the Editor. . . . . . . . . . 8 Meadow Hill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Town of Newburgh. . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Newburgh Heritage. . . . . . . . . . . 10 New Windsor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Service Directory. . . . . . . . . . . 29 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 City welcomes new Mexican restaurant PUBLIC AGENDA THURSDAY, JUNE 27 Town of Newburgh Zoning Board of Appeals. 7 p.m. Town Hall, 1496 Route 300, Town of Newburgh. MONDAY, JULY 1 New Windsor Town Board Work Session, 7 p.m., Town Hall, 555 Union Ave., New Windsor. TUESDAY, JULY 2 Newburgh City Council Work Session. 7 p.m. City Council Chambers, 83 Broadway, Newburgh WEDNESDAY, JULY 3 New Windsor Town Board, 7 p.m., Town Hall, 555 Union Ave., New Windsor. MONDAY, JULY 8 Newburgh Town Board meeting. 7 p.m. Town Hall, 1496 Route 300, Town of Newburgh. HOW TO REACH US OFFICE: 300 Stony Brook Court Newburgh, NY 12550 PHONE: [phone], FAX: [phone] Emails may be directed to the following : ADVERTISING [email protected] CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS [email protected] TO REACH THE EDITOR [email protected] FOR THE SPORTS DEPARTMENT [email protected] PUBLIC NOTICES [email protected] WEBSITE www.mhtimesonline.com The Mid Hudson Times (USPS 000-5947) is a weekly newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh, NY 12550, with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY. Single copy: $1 at newsstand. By mail in Orange, Ulster or Sullivan Counties: $40 annually, $44 out of county. Periodicals permit at Newburgh, NY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mid Hudson Times, 300 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550. City officials joined Laura and Jaime Catalan at the ribbon cutting of Mi Florecita Mexicana at 372 Broadway, By ILYSSA DALY M i Florecita Mexicana is the City of Newburgh’s newest locally owned restaurant. But, don’t be fooled by the colorful plates filled with fresh food, or the warmth of its atmosphere, complete with wooden tables, chairs, and lively music-- it is here to stay. The restaurant officially opened for business on June 22, complete with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by government officials and community members. Mi Florecita Mexicana is owned by Newburgh residents Laura and Jaime Catalan. It is also family operated: everyone from immediate to extended family has been involved in cultivating the restaurant’s impending success. Mi Florecita Mexicana had been an idea of Laura Catalan’s for years. She “got tired of her job and wanted to be her own boss. She wanted to be the one taking charge,” says Edgar Catalan, her son. With the help of her son’s translating, co-owner Laura Catalan explains how a restaurant similar to this one was managed by her family back in Mexico. “We wanted to translate it into the United States,” she explains. “Since we had the dream of doing something for ourselves, we opened up this restaurant.” She now feels extremely “satisfied” with her efforts. “When you come into the United States, you have that want, that drive to have something for your kids, to have an opportunity [available for them when they] grow up,” Laura Catalan says. Mi Florecita Mexicana used to just be an inkling, a wistful desire. Then, a building became vacant on Broadway Street a few months ago. The rest happened in less than two months: creating the menu, acquiring permits, and purchasing supplies. Though the entire family emigrated from Mexico over a decade ago, Laura Catalan’s niece, Suriana Rodriguez, explains that this restaurant’s integrity remains intact. “We bring that authenticity of Mexican food, and the spirit of being an immigrant family. No matter what, you can make it here,” she says. “The American Dream is something that may be hard, but it’s achievable if you put the work in.” She is heavily involved in handling Mi Florecita Mexicana’s business, finances, and promotion. Rodriguez says that her entire family spent years working in the service industry for other people. After growing “tired of always having to answer to someone,” Rodriguez recalls her family’s drive and “spirit” to go into business themselves. Unfortunately, the road to success is not without its challenges. Edgar Catalan believes that this restaurant encompasses key aspects of the American Dream: “coming over here, finding a way to prosper, [with] all the obstacles that we have in our way.” However, it’s especially difficult “with the time period of where we are, with immigration policies being a lot more strict,” he says. Mi Florecita Mexicana is “a good exhibition of what a Hispanic community can bring to a neighborhood. We are hard workers. We come here not to do harm to the country. We’re here to prosper and find better opportunities that we are able to have. My mom and my parents, everyone who you see here in this restaurant are a great example of that,” explains Edgar Catalan. He says that his family exhibits the “Mexican ethos” of being able to accomplish anything if they work hard for it. And, others seem to agree with the family’s hardworking nature. During the ribbon cutting ceremony, government officials spoke of this restaurant’s importance, especially during a time of divisiveness. “When people want to know what our future is going to be like, it’s going to be greater than ever, because of families like yours, that follow your dreams, that open up and have your own business,” says Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson. To Orange County Legislator Kevindaryán Luján, he says during the ribbon cutting ceremony that restaurants and small businesses like Mi Florecita Mexicana are “the backbone[s]” in the City of Newburgh that drive economic development. “This is, again, another opportunity of how, as a community, we’re building… We’ve always been something else to other people, and we are now wanting [something] to be ‘for us,’” says City of Newburgh Councilwoman Karen Mejia. She explains that Newburgh is a “mixed economic city” and a “mixed social city,” which is “what we want.” All of the restaurant’s food is freshly prepared and “everything is made to order. Nothing is frozen,” says Rodriguez. According to Laura Catalan, Mi Florecita Mexicana infuses elements of traditional Mexican and American dishes to create a harmonious balance. Customers can expect “excellent customer service as well as good taste in food,” she says. Mi Florecita Mexicana is located on 372 Broadway, in the City of Newburgh. For more information, please call the restaurant at [phone].